The Golden State Warriors just made a move that effectively takes them out of the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes - and in doing so, they may have shifted the landscape of the NBA trade deadline.
Golden State sent Jonathan Kuminga, along with Buddy Hield, to the Atlanta Hawks in a deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis to the Bay Area. It’s a bold move that signals a pivot in direction for the Warriors, but it also means they’ve likely closed the door on any serious pursuit of Antetokounmpo.
Let’s be clear: Giannis isn’t exactly on the market. The Bucks haven’t shown much interest in shopping their two-time MVP, and with the team still in contention, they’re in no rush to entertain blockbuster offers.
But if there was a team that could’ve made Milwaukee think twice, it was Golden State. Between Kuminga’s upside, a few expiring contracts, and a stash of draft picks, the Warriors had the kind of assets that could’ve made the Bucks at least listen.
Now that Kuminga’s gone, that window appears to have closed. Whether the Bucks weren’t impressed with what the Warriors had to offer, or whether they’re simply not ready to make a franchise-altering decision midseason, remains unclear. But with the deadline fast approaching, it’s safe to say the Warriors are no longer in the running.
So where does that leave the rest of the field?
The Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves are two names that keep coming up. Miami has a history of waiting for the right moment to pounce, while Minnesota might be more inclined to push their chips in now, especially given the momentum they’ve built this season. But one team that’s flying under the radar - and maybe for good reason - is the Charlotte Hornets.
On paper, Charlotte could put together a compelling package. They’ve got young talent, draft capital, and enough flexibility to construct a deal that at least gets Milwaukee’s attention.
But here’s the catch: to make that kind of offer, they’d likely have to part with one or more of their cornerstone players - LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, or Kon Knueppel. That’s a steep price, and it raises the question: even if they land Giannis, would they have enough left to compete?
That’s the dilemma for a team like the Hornets. Sure, they could roll out a package centered around Miles Bridges, a promising young player not named Ball, Miller, or Knueppel, plus some salary filler and multiple first-round picks.
But would that be enough to tempt the Bucks? Probably not.
And if Charlotte does go all-in and strips down their core to land Antetokounmpo, they risk becoming a one-star team without the supporting cast to make a deep playoff run.
It’s also worth noting that there’s been no serious buzz linking Charlotte to Giannis - just a passing mention from Ramona Shelburne. Still, the NBA trade deadline has a way of surprising us. Just because a move seems unlikely doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
As it stands, the Hornets remain on the outside looking in. But with the Warriors stepping back, the door is slightly more ajar - and for a team willing to take a big swing, that might be all the invitation they need.